Full-bodied red wine: substance to stand up to the dish
296 full-bodied red wines, from €9.40A full-bodied red has body: density on the palate, alcohol, a length that lingers after swallowing. It's not necessarily aggressive tannins, but rather substance. This is the wine you bring out when the dish is rich and the wine needs to hold its own.
This is our most extensive profile with 296 cuvées. Malbec accounts for 37, Syrah and Shiraz for 37 between them, and Carménère for 14. The dominant origins are Italy with 56 wines, Spain with 48, and Argentina with 43.
Santa Rita - 120 Special Reserve Syrah 2022
Braam, peper en rook: een krachtige Chileense Syrah zonder zwaarte.
Dona Paula - Los Cardos Malbec 2022
A beautiful representation of Argentinian Malbec
Bertani - Valpolicella Ripasso 2022
Valpolicella opnieuw vergist op de schillen van Amarone: vol, kruidig en smeuïg.
Argiano - Rosso Di Montalcino 2022
Montalcino in een soepele, fruitige versie, om meteen te openen zonder tien jaar te wachten.
Carpineto - Chianti Classico Riserva 2020
Een Chianti Classico met bewaarpotentieel, rijpe kers, leer en blonde tabak.
Villa Girardi - Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2013
Amarone 2013 van ingedroogde druiven, gemacereerde pruim, cacao en een weelderige body.
Villa Girardi - Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore Bure alto 2020
De ripasso van Villa Girardi, opnieuw vergist op de schillen van amarone, vol en kruidig.
Cave des Amandiers - Syrah 2019
Syrah die tot in de bergen groeit: rijp, met peper en rook op fluweelzachte tannines.
Malma - Malbec Family Reserve 2020
Malbec steeped in Patagonian terroir
Malma - Malbec Universo 2019
The essential Malbec of Patagonia.
Henschke - Henry's Seven 2023
A Rhône blend with an Australian twist, juicy and spicy, which fully expresses the generosity of the Barossa.
Bouchard Finlayson - Hannibal 2020
A Mediterranean-inspired red, elegant and spicy, carried by the maritime freshness of Hemel-en-Aarde.
Tyrrell's - 4 Acres Shiraz 2021
A Shiraz from Hunter Valley, sourced from a historic plot, combining finesse, freshness and aromatic depth.
E's Wine - Malbec 2024
An elegant Malbec, from the high-altitude terroirs of Gualtallary, combining intensity, structure and minerality.
E's Vino - Ello Malbec de Ánfora 2022
A top-class Malbec, vinified using traditional methods in amphorae, combining aromatic intensity and refined structure.
Yarra Yering - Underhill Shiraz 2017
A refined and spicy expression of Shiraz from the Yarra Valley, combining freshness, depth and length.
Benanti - Contrada Cavaliere Etna Rosso 2022
A high altitude Etna Rosso, precise and vibrant, where the finesse of the Nerello Mascalese meets the mineral energy of the volcano.
Damascene - Syrah Stellenbosch 2022
A precise and fresh Stellenbosch syrah, where the purity of the fruit meets the elegance of the coastal terroir.
Damascene - Syrah Swartland 2022
A precise and profound Swartland Syrah, where the freshness of the terroir enhances the concentration of the fruit.
Kusuda - Syrah 2021
A Martinborough Syrah of great precision, combining freshness, finesse and aromatic depth.
Charles Melton - Nine Popes 2018
A blend in the style of the great wines of the southern Rhône, combining richness, spices and balance typical of the Barossa Valley.
Cayuse - Pebbles 2020
Braam, cassis en pruim, gevolgd door een kruidige afdronk die deze Syrah met zijn zijdezachte textuur verlengt.
Cayuse - Pebbles 2019
Paarse kleur, zwarte bessen en frisse munt in een Syrah met strelende tannines.
Cayuse - Impulsive 2019
Tempranillo op de keien van En Chamberlin, zwarte kers, ceder en een uitgesproken ziltigheid.
Grape varieties that produce a full-bodied red
Power comes from the grape variety, but above all from the climate. The same Syrah grape produces a peppery and taut wine in the Rhône, and a round and candied wine in Australia.
| Grape variety | The style | Where can we find it in our country | The side dish that goes with it | In our company, starting from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malbec 37 vintages | Ripe, violet, velvety flesh and plenty of substance. | Argentine especially, Cahors | Grills, red meats, empanadas | |
| Syrah, Shiraz 37 vintages | Black pepper and olive in the Rhône, candied blackberry in Australia. | Rhône, Australia, Chile, South Africa | Barbecue, lamb, stews | €13.50Listening Station Shiraz |
| Carménère 14 vintages | Grilled pepper, cocoa, a broad texture. | Chile, almost exclusively | Meats in sauce, chili con carne | €9.40Santa Rita 120 Carmenere |
| Tempranillo | Black fruit, leather, vanilla when aged for a long time. | Spain, Rioja, Ribera del Duero | Roast lamb, Iberian cured meats | |
| Aglianico, Sangiovese suitable for aging | Southern structure, dense fruit, firm finish. | Campania, Basilicata, Tuscany | Osso buco, slow-braised meats | €11.90Fantini Sangiovese Terre di Chieti |
Full-bodied and tannic are not synonymous: a wine can be dense without being rough. If you are looking for a firm structure and good aging potential, check out tannic reds.
Three bottles to get into the profile
The charts provide the theory. Here are three bottles available today, at three price points.
The admission fee
Chilean Carmenere in its most accessible version. Grilled bell pepper, cocoa, a broad palate.
Santa Rita 120 Carménère · €9.40Everyday red
Abruzzo Sangiovese, unoaked, full of dense fruit. The perfect red to pair with pasta in sauce.
Fantini Sangiovese Terre di Chieti · €11.90For the barbecue
Australian Shiraz from Victoria. Candied blackberry, pepper, the substance needed to stand up to grilled meat.
Listening Station Shiraz · €13.50
Power does not make wine
A full-bodied red that's poorly made is just alcohol and oak. You can recognize a good, powerful wine by its drinkability: despite its density, you still want a second glass. It's a question of balance between body and freshness, not maximum concentration.
Altitude is our preferred benchmark for this profile. Malbecs from Mendoza planted at 1,200 meters retain an acidity that the same vines on the plains lose, and the wine holds up without becoming overwhelming.
How do you choose
We taste blind with a glass of water nearby. If after three sips the palate is saturated and we want to move on, the wine is powerful but unsuccessful. A well-made full-bodied wine makes you thirsty for more.
The Wine Wanderer Team
What we're asked about bold red
Bold and tannic, is that the same thing?
No. Full-bodied describes the substance and power, while tannic describes the texture that tightens the mouth. An Argentinian Malbec is full-bodied without being rough; a young Barolo is tannic without being heavy. See tannic reds.
Should I open it in advance?
Half an hour is enough for most. Vintages suitable for aging benefit from one hour of decanting. Our decanting guide explains the difference between decanting and aerating.
Which bra for a barbecue?
A Syrah or a Malbec. The smoke and fat of the grilled meat call for body and pronounced dark fruit. Our barbecue guide details pairings according to the type of meat.
At what temperature should it be served?
Between 16 and 18°C. Above that, the alcohol takes over and the wine seems heavy. Most indoor temperatures are around 21°C, so a short chill is often helpful.
Is he the most alcoholic-looking one?
Generally yes, often between 14 and 15%. Our alcohol content chart compares styles and regions.